“It’s a comic thriller—a thromedy?—that teems with Fallis’ trademark wit. But the thrills of the thriller are there as well in this tale of a Canadian writer, James Norval, who dives headlong into the middle of a coup in the West African country of Mali. Norval’s voice is the most endearingly irksome one I’ve heard in quite some time.” –Wayne Johnston (Jennie’s Boy)

James Norval has built a successful career crafting the thrilling adventures of his fictional hero, Hunter Chase, a character admired by readers and movie-goers worldwide. But despite his fame and fortune, Norval has always harboured a secret dream of living the life he only writes about—a life as a field operative for CSIS, Canada’s Security Intelligence Service. In fact, nearly 30 years earlier, he washed out of the CSIS recruitment program, and it’s haunted him ever since.

But that long-held dream becomes a reality when a series of unfortunate events lands Norval in a foreign prison. Rescued by CSIS, he is given an unexpected opportunity: to use his unique position as the favourite writer of Mali’s newly installed president to assist in a delicate and dangerous mission. With the help of agent Lauren Cooper, Norval must infiltrate the Malian government and execute a daring plan to exfiltrate 15 Canadian nationals before the corrupt powers that control the country uncover their true intentions.